The Beasts’ Choir by Carmen Bernos De Gasztold lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.
Macmillan, 1967, Hardback in dust wrapper.
Illustrated by way of: Black & White Drawings; First British Edition. [First Published: Editions du Cloître as Choral de Bêtes, France 1960]
From the cover: A further collection of prayers by the French poet and mystic, Carmen Bernos de Gasztold, translated by Rumer Godden. Again the poet speaks for the voiceless ones: birds, beasts, fishes, even the humblest and most impudent insects, letting each animal make its own statement of being in honour of its Creator. Lion and bear, peacock, toad and centipede, all join their voices in a choir of praise, testifying to the infinite variety of the natural world and the endless compassion of Gods understanding.
Rumer Godden first encountered the work of Carmen de Gasztold in two small volumes published by the Benedictine press Editions du Cloitre, Le Mieux Aime and Prieres dans IArche and, enchanted by their originality and charm, translated them for the benefit of English-speaking readers under the title Prayers from the Ark, published in 1963, also illustrated by Jean Primrose.
These new poems, written in the tranquil atmosphere of the Abbaye Saint-Louis-du-Temple just south of Paris, where Mademoiselle de Gasztold now lives, sound a subtly different note and will delight admirers of the earlier collection as well as readers come newly to these most unusual devotional poems. A sharp and sometimes humorous perception of each beasts essential nature gives each succeeding speaker a separate and distinctive note: now grave, now gay, now stately, now ridiculous, like parts in some glorious harmony. All magnify the Lord but are definitely of the world as well, for Carmen de Gasztold is never sentimental in her view of creation.
The translation echoes and reflects the language and spirit of the original text, with simplicity of word and depth of thought. This is a book for all ages.
Introduction by: Rumer Godden
Very Good in Good Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded with loss at the spine ends. Gently bruised at the head, tail and corners of the binding. Previous owners’ inscription to the first blank. Tape remnants to the flaps and pastedowns. Text complete, clean and tight but a little age-tanned with occasional spotting.
Pictorial boards. 69 pages. 9¼” x 6¼”.
This book will be eventually reach my delightful website…(added to my Poetry category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog… Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!
BookLovers of Bath 